The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-02-15
PERILS OF AUTHORSHIP.
How a Young Bride Brought Them
Upon Herself

Mildred : pretty face Wore a new cX-
preston as she toyed with her teaspoon
and tried TO finish her roll and coffee
John had just left for his office. They
had been married three months, and the
serious aspects of life were for the first
time presenting themselves. The prob
lem of income and outgo had made a
fair showing on paper. \ small apart
ment-fuel and gas inclutlcd-One ser
want, and with such loads of wedding
presents. absolutely nothing to buy.
they could actually save money. But,
somehow. there were leaks which had
not been considered, and ten dollars
covered a much smaller amount in time
and space than John or Mildred had
supposed.
Il wish | could do something to help
John. thought Mildred "a she gazed
abstractcdly ont of the window He
has 10 work SO hard, and she gave a
little sigh.
What can | do?" she pondered
"What can | do?" she asked herself
again and again. as with def touch she
Strengthened and arranged the dainty
apartment.
Suddenly her face looked Ia if door
had opened and flooded itwith sunlight.
Il know what L will do: / will write
a story know can if try. People
do not have to be SO awfully clever to
to that 1t is knack, not talent.
There is Mrs. -, who has made heaps
of money; and her stories are only poor
trash of them. John saws So
Before another hour had passed the
outline of "a plot was dancing in her eX-
cited young brain. and as soon "a she
could get the time she sat down with
pad and sharpened pencil. Then came
pause. How shall | begin?' She
drew little gcomctric figures on the
margin of her paper as she reflected,
her thoughts seeming to rcvolve I'm "A
circle, returning ever Ia the place from
whence they started. Finally she wrote:
lin IA small village on the banks of
''Oh. that is 50 commonplace. No;
that will not do" And she tore off the
first sheet of her pad and reflected
again. then wrote:
Frank Atwood was the only son of
a 2as
No, no: that is too stupid. and the
second sheet of the pad went into the
waste paper basket.
She recalled what John had said of
the superfiuous first three pages. which
might with benefit TO most stories be
eliminated-for John WAS Journalist
and literary critic, and his standards
ard ideals were just ON the measure of
her own. So she thought with great
Difference If what he had said about
tedious preambles.
He is right. she said with decision
at is the personal interest in the char
acters which we are looking for in
reading story All that comes before
that is tedious superiority.
Il will dash right on with letter
from the heroine. which will at once
explain the situation. So with the
confidence which came from feeling
herself at last on the right track, she
wrote:
Dear Frank: | return herewith the
letters. which of course I have now no
right To keep. | need not tell YOU
what it costs me. have reflected much
upon what You said yesterday. bat am
at last resolved. | will not see YOU
again. ANY attempt to make me break
this resolve will be fruitless. God
knows You have only yourself to blame
that this marriage has, Z
please ma am.' said the cook. COM
ing suddenly in upon the Young author
ess. PLEASE. ma'am, the butcher
is here. Will You come and see
him and give the order yerSelf about
havin them chops frenched or whatever
st - -